Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabpea’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabpea’, characterized by its single type pink-colored flowers with distinct venation, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabpea’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabpea’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during October 2004. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration,medium green-colored foliage, and a moderately vigorous,mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryCalibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 2155-1B, not patented,characterized by its single type light pink-colored flowers lackingdistinct venation color, medium green-colored foliage, and mounded andtrailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar isthe proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated2170-7B, not patented, characterized by its single type brightsalmon-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and prostrategrowth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring August 2005 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2005 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabpea’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Single type, pink-colored flowers with distinct venation;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in venation color of the flower and from plants of the maleparent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar isMiniFamous™ Apricot Dream ‘KLEC01061’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,172.However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differfrom plants of ‘KLEC01061’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘KLEC01061’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a mature stem color different        from plants of ‘KLEC01061’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabpea’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcabpea’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balcabpea’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on May 2, 2007 between 9:00a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch potsfor 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given onepinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day andapproximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night.Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles weremaintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabpea.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding            selection designated 2155-1B, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding            selection designated 2170-7B, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-trailing growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 9.6 cm. Width: Approximately 25.7 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 6.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 14.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem:            144B. Color of mature stem: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 20. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning            downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature            leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Densely            glandular pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely            glandular pubescent, dense on venation. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: 137A with venation of 144C. Color of lower surface            of young and mature foliage: 138B with venation of 138C.            Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137B with venation            of 144C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.8 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent: Color: 144C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabpea’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            9 to 11 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 20. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 6.2.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm.            Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: Petals of 54C and venation of            187D darkening on midveins to 187A; corolla tube of 1C with            venation of 1B.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.3 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse, some acuminate. Length from            tube: Approximately 1.4 cm. Length of free portion:            Approximately 5.3 mm. Width: Approximately 1.6 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:            Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface when first open: N66D            with N66B at throat opening and venation of 187D darkening            on midveins to 187A. Color of lower surface when first and            fully open: 65C with venation of 187D darkening on midveins            to 187A. Color of upper surface when fully open: N66D with            N66B at throat opening and venation of 187D darkening on            midveins to 187A; background fades to 38B with age.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 8.2 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 12A with            venation of 1B. Color of outer surface: 1C with venation of            1B.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 144B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately            1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color            of lower surface: 137C with 144C at base.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.1 cm.            Filament length of free portion: Approximately 6.0 mm.            Filament color: 154D. Anther shape: 2 parted, oval. Anther            length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 8B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Stigma            shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color:            144A. Style length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Style color: 144B.            Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: N144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabpea’,substantially as herein shown and described.